We stayed at the Sunrise a year ago after selling our home outside Playa Del Carmen and it is a nice AI property with better cuisine and drinks than many other AI’s. The adult-only Grand section is a big step-up in quality of course. And yes, although the beach is nice there, you don’t see the nice water colors as you do a bit to the north and south. The sargassum has been a problem since 2015 throughout the Carib and that is unfortunate. The beaches here are looking very nice now but it will be another month or so before it is totally gone…
We’ve cruised to SXM 3 times and stayed on SXM twice, once on either side. The beaches are nice, and there are a couple we go to where we can get away from most of the cruise ship crowds. And we love the dining options, especially around Grand Case. We have friends who also consider SXM their second home but it’s just never called to us in that way…🤷🏼 We want the nice beaches and evening entertainment, but I’m more a fan of Tortola I guess… But that island is getting hit with the mega-cruise ships like SXM, STT, and Cozumel…
We’ve been visiting the Riviera Maya and other areas of Mexico for 20+ years, with stays at SXM, BVI, USVI, PR, DR and other islands during that time as well. Mexico just captured our hearts with the amazing culture and the wonderful people and so we built a home here. Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Tulum have indeed become very popular destinations, for both tourists and expats. We’ve wintered here for 8 years, and the people are just so welcoming and we miss them already. We advise visiting friends to avoid the Cancun Hotel Zone and look to the south, or at Cozumel or Isla Mujeres. We just tired of the continued rise in the building of resorts along with the rise in traffic and decided it was time to look elsewhere. Crime is a concern here, just as on SXM…But if you ever decide to return maybe consider a boutique hotel or condo (or a resort) in the gated community of Playacar or another spot near PDC. That’s a nice, central area from which to explore the natural beauty and Mayan ruins, while also having access to excellent restaurants and nightlife. And of course the beaches and sea are gorgeous here. Just a thought for anyone considering visiting the Riviera Maya! 😄
